Information Overload & Social Filtering for Educatorshttp://schlerplotti.typepad.com/squirrelnet/2010/03/information-overload-social-filtering-for-educators.html
Found an interesting tweet today courtesy of Marjie Knudsen, regarding the need to filter what commands our attention. Reminds me a bit of the APML (Attention Profile Markup Language) work I ran into as part of the highly-technical DataPortability.org. Marjie...<p>Found an interesting tweet today courtesy of Marjie Knudsen, regarding the need to filter what commands our attention. Reminds me a bit of the APML (Attention Profile Markup Language) work I ran into as part of the highly-technical DataPortability.org. &#0160;Marjie reference an article called Where Social Learning Thrives, written by Marcia Conner. Here is a section of the article that I focused on:<em><span style="color: #5b5b5b; ">&#39;</span></em></p><p><em><span style="color: #5b5b5b; ">&#39;Yet in most classrooms, young people are prevented from helping each&#0160;other learn and succeed... Part of why we are not better at helping one another learn and grow&#0160;is that our attention is spread thin. There is so much going on... By choosing wisely where we place&#0160;our attention, we have more attention and enthusiasm to give. Or as&#0160;Clay Shirky put it at Web 2.0 Expo NY, &quot;It&#39;s not information overload. It&#39;s filter failure.&quot;&#0160;</span></em></p><p><em><span style="color: #5b5b5b; "><span style="color: #000000; font-style: normal; "><em><span style="color: #5b5b5b; ">Social learning is accelerated when we give our attention to&#0160;individuals, groups and projects that interest and energize us. We&#0160;self-select the themes we want to follow and filter out those that feel&#0160;burdensome, all with impunity... It&#39;s the technology of social learning, and social media in general,&#0160;that allows us to regulate our attention to those areas where we can&#0160;gain the highest return on investment, and put our best contributions&#0160;<span style="color: #000000; font-style: normal; "><em><span style="color: #5b5b5b; ">out into the world.&#39;</span></em></span></span></em></span></span></em></p><p></p><p><em><span style="color: #5b5b5b; "><span style="color: #000000; font-style: normal; ">While I don&#39;t disagree that there is certainly an exponentially increasing stream of data in the world today, I will add that there are also many more opportunities to focus on subjects of personal interest than ever before. However, to achieve this takes work.</span></span></em></p><p>Looking back on my life as a child, I don&#39;t remember having such challenges and opportunities. I firmly believe that a person who dedicates themselves to filtering would end up a better educated and smarter individual. My own personal set of tools includes using Google Reader to aggregate more than 1000 RSS feeds and then using social filtering, Yahoo Pipes and other tools to filter that information.</p><p>What are your tools and tips for filtering? Let me know via Twitter at <a href="http://twitter.com/squirrelnet">@squirrelnet</a> or <a href="http://www.squirrelnet.com/email.asp">email me</a>.</p><p></p><p></p>Mike Reynolds2010-03-01T19:48:20-05:00Who has a slow computer?http://schlerplotti.typepad.com/squirrelnet/2010/02/who-has-a-slow-computer.html
Just wanted to check in to see if any of my readers has a computer that is too slow? Google seems to send a lot of visitors to SquirrelNet because of an article I wrote a few years ago, called...<p>Just wanted to check in to see if any of my readers has a computer that is too slow? Google seems to send a lot of visitors to SquirrelNet because of an article I wrote a few years ago, called 10 tips on how to fix an overly slow computer.<br/>
<br/>
See that article for tips on how to speed up your computer. However, if your computer is getting old, it could just be that it's time to get a new computer. On that note, you can find a great computer these days for only $300. In fact, the laptop I am using right now cost only $300, compared to the $3000 laptop I had purchased some 5-6 years ago.</p>Mike Reynolds2010-02-27T13:53:14-05:00How to Search for Words on a Webpagehttp://schlerplotti.typepad.com/squirrelnet/2010/02/how-to-search-for-words-on-a-webpage.html
Question: How do I search for words on a webpage? Answer: We've all been to webpages that are too long. If you want to locate a particular word to target your reading, just hit CTRL+F then type in that word....<p>Question: How do I search for words on a webpage?<br/>
<br/>
Answer: We've all been to webpages that are too long. If you want to locate a particular word to target your reading, just hit CTRL+F then type in that word. You can probably access this page search via the menu bars in most browsers, such as Edit &gt; Find or Edit &gt; Search.</p>Mike Reynolds2010-02-27T13:46:34-05:00Google Broadband (Something I predicted 5 years ago)http://schlerplotti.typepad.com/squirrelnet/2010/02/google-broadband-something-i-predicted-5-years-ago-1.html
Five years ago in 2005, I wrote an article that predicted the future of Google, entitling the article: Google's Future? GBrowser, GooglePC, Google NetPC and Google ISP. Since then, nearly all of this has come true: GBrowser (Chrome), Google NetPC...<p><span style="font-size: 13px; ">Five years ago in 2005, I wrote an article that predicted the future of Google, entitling the article: <span style="line-height: 19px; font-size: large; "><span style="font-size: 14px; "><a href="http://schlerplotti.typepad.com/squirrelnet/2005/05/gbrowser_and_go.html" title="Google&#39;s Future? GBrowser, GooglePC, Google NetPC and Google ISP">Google&#39;s Future? GBrowser, GooglePC, Google NetPC and Google ISP</a>.</span></span></span></p><p><font size="4"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Since then, nearly all of this has come true: &#0160;GBrowser (Chrome), Google NetPC (Nexus One) and the GooglePC (Everex gPC made in partnership with Google). &#0160;All of this has come to be, except for Google ISP (Internet Service Provider).</span></font></p><p><font size="4"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Well, no longer. &#0160;Google is about to become a limited ISP through <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/189024/google_challenge_to_us_broadband_might_actually_change_things.html/" title="Google Broadband">Google Broadband</a>. &#0160;It will be a superfast service only available near Google&#39;s headquarters in Mountain View, California.</span></font></p>Mike Reynolds2010-02-10T20:15:46-05:00Google Broadband (Something I predicted 5 years ago)http://schlerplotti.typepad.com/squirrelnet/2010/02/google-broadband-something-i-predicted-5-years-ago.html
Five years ago in 2005, I wrote an article that predicted the future of Google, entitling the article: Google's Future? GBrowser, GooglePC, Google NetPC and Google ISP. Since then, nearly all of this has come true: GBrowse (Chrome), Google NetPC...<p><span style="font-size: 13px; ">Five years ago in 2005, I wrote an article that predicted the future of Google, entitling the article: <span style="line-height: 19px; font-size: large; "><span style="font-size: 14px; "><a href="http://schlerplotti.typepad.com/squirrelnet/2005/05/gbrowser_and_go.html" title="Google&#39;s Future? GBrowser, GooglePC, Google NetPC and Google ISP">Google&#39;s Future? GBrowser, GooglePC, Google NetPC and Google ISP</a>.</span></span></span></p><p><font size="4"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Since then, nearly all of this has come true: &#0160;GBrowse (Chrome), Google NetPC (Nexus One) and the GooglePC (Everex gPC made in partnership with Google). &#0160;All of this has come to be, except for Google ISP (Internet Service Provider).</span></font></p><p><font size="4"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Well, no longer. &#0160;Google is about to become a limited ISP through <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/189024/google_challenge_to_us_broadband_might_actually_change_things.html/" title="Google Broadband">Google Broadband</a>. &#0160;It will be a superfast service only available near Google&#39;s headquarters in Mountain View, California.</span></font></p><p>&#0160;</p>Mike Reynolds2010-02-10T20:14:21-05:00Safe Search using Google on Smartphoneshttp://schlerplotti.typepad.com/squirrelnet/2009/10/safe-search-using-google-on-smartphones.html
If you have a smartphone (iPhone, Blackberry, Palm, etc) and want to see a SafeSearch version of Google, try this Safe Search using Google on Smartphones. Results will be formatted for your phone. This is a Google Custom Search engine...If you have a smartphone (iPhone, Blackberry, Palm, etc) and want to see a SafeSearch version of Google, try this <a href="http://www.google.com/cse/home?cx=partner-pub-6379962124902668:ny796q-9ktk">Safe Search using Google on Smartphones</a>.
Results will be formatted for your phone. This is a Google Custom Search engine that uses the Google SafeSearch filter.
Mike Reynolds2009-10-25T22:29:16-04:00Happy Mother's Day from SquirrelNet.com!http://schlerplotti.typepad.com/squirrelnet/2009/05/happy-mothers-day-from-squirrelnetcom.html
"I'm nuts about you Mom." Awww :)<p>&quot;<em>I&#39;m nuts about you Mom</em>.&quot; &#0160;Awww :)</p><p><a href="http://schlerplotti.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83420740f53ef01156f865e39970c-popup" onclick="window.open( this.href, &#39;_blank&#39;, &#39;width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0&#39; ); return false" style="float: left;"><img alt="Squirrel_mothers_day" border="0" class="at-xid-6a00d83420740f53ef01156f865e39970c" src="http://schlerplotti.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83420740f53ef01156f865e39970c-800wi" style="margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="Squirrel_mothers_day" /></a> </p>Mike Reynolds2009-05-10T10:47:47-04:00Track the Swine Flu outbreak on Google Mapshttp://schlerplotti.typepad.com/squirrelnet/2009/04/track-the-swine-flu-outbreak-on-google-maps.html
Here is a Swine Flu outbreak map courtesy of Google Maps. Click for bigger view.<p>Here is a <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&amp;hl=en&amp;t=p&amp;msa=0&amp;msid=106484775090296685271.0004681a37b713f6b5950&amp;ll=32.639375,-110.390625&amp;spn=15.738151,25.488281&amp;z=5" title="Swine Flu outbreak map via Google Maps">Swine Flu outbreak map</a> courtesy of Google Maps. &#0160;Click for bigger view.</p><div>&#0160;<br /><a href="http://schlerplotti.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83420740f53ef01157053d674970b-popup" onclick="window.open(this.href,&#39;_blank&#39;,&#39;scrollbars=no,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0&#39;); return false" style="float: left; display: inline !important; "><img alt="Swine Flu outbreak map Google Maps" class="at-xid-6a00d83420740f53ef01157053d674970b " src="http://schlerplotti.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83420740f53ef01157053d674970b-320wi" style="margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="Swine Flu outbreak map Google Maps" /></a></div>Mike Reynolds2009-04-26T13:50:03-04:00Where to watch President Obama's inauguration onlinehttp://schlerplotti.typepad.com/squirrelnet/2009/01/where-to-watch-president-obamas-inauguration-online.html
Barack Obama will be inaugurated the 44th US President on Tuesday, January 20 a t noon (see inaugural schedule). In case you are away from the TV during the event but have internet access where you'll be, GigaOm has coverage...<p>Barack Obama will be inaugurated the 44th US President on Tuesday, January 20 a<a href="http://schlerplotti.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83420740f53ef010536d7afb6970b-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="225px-Official_portrait_of_Barack_Obama" class="at-xid-6a00d83420740f53ef010536d7afb6970b selected " src="http://schlerplotti.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83420740f53ef010536d7afb6970b-320wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" /></a>
t noon (see <a href="http://inaugurationday2009.com/schedule.html#20">inaugural schedule</a>). &#0160;In case you are away from the TV during the event but have internet access where you&#39;ll be, GigaOm has coverage on <a href="http://gigaom.com/2009/01/17/where-to-watch-obamas-inauguration-on-january-20th/">where to watch President Obama&#39;s inauguration online</a>. &#0160;Here&#39;s a subset of what Om recommended, useful to have handy in case some site is overwhelmed:</p><div><ul>
<li><a href="http://www.cnn.com/live/">CNN</a></li>
<li><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/">ABC News</a>&#0160;</li>
<li><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com">CBS News</a>&#0160;</li>
<li><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032553/">MSNBC</a>&#0160;</li>
<li><span><a href="http://www.c-span.org/">C-SPAN</a>&#0160;</span>&#0160;</li>
<li><a href="http://nytimes.com/">New York Times</a>&#0160;</li>
<li><a href="http://usatoday.com/">USA Today</a>&#0160;</li>
</ul>
<span>&#0160;</span>&#0160;<br /><br /></div>Mike Reynolds2009-01-18T16:14:49-05:00How to Follow the Discussion on Twitter for Today's NFL Playoffshttp://schlerplotti.typepad.com/squirrelnet/2009/01/how-to-follow-the-discussion-on-twitter-for-todays-nfl-playoffs.html
If you're a football fan and want to follow today's discussion on Twitter (if you know what that is), following the discussion is rather easy. Just visit here on NFL playoffs search via search.twitter.com. On that note, if you ever...<p>If you&#39;re a football fan and want to follow today&#39;s discussion on Twitter (if you know what that is), following the discussion is rather easy.</p><div>Just visit here on <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=steelers+OR+ravens+OR+cardinals+OR+eagles">NFL playoffs search via search.twitter.com</a>.</div><br /><div>On that note, if you ever want to reach me on Twitter, here I am: &#0160;<a href="http://twitter.com/MikeReynolds">Mike Reynolds on Twitter</a>.</div>TwitterMike Reynolds2009-01-18T10:47:49-05:00